Tasmanian Upper House passes & upgrades same-sex parent law

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 29.10.09

The Tasmanian Upper House has passed and improved a new law giving equal recognition and protection to families headed by same-sex couples.

The Legislative Council has unanimously endorsed a State Government initiative that will recognise the same-sex partner of a woman who has a child through fertility treatment as the child's other legal parent.

An amendment proposed by Windermere Independent, Ivan Dean, which was also unanimously supported by Upper House members, has improved the new law by backdating the recognition to include all those children born to two mothers through fertility treatment since same-sex couples were first recognised in Tasmanian law six years ago.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, welcomed the reform saying,

"This is in the best interests of the children of same-sex couples because it provides them with the greater legal, financial and emotional security that comes with having two legal parents rather than one".

Womens' Legal Service managing solicitor, Susan Fahey, also welcomed the change saying,

"We have seen too many distressing examples of co-mothers being denied access to their children in hospital or not being acknowledged by school administrators. We are very pleased the children of same-sex couples will now have the same rights and protections that other Tasmanian children currently have, and which all children deserve from birth."

The traditionally-conservative Legislative Council stridently opposed decriminalising homosexuality in the 1990s and voted down the current parenting proposal in 2003 when it was put forward as part of the groundbreaking Relationships Act.

However, this time the parenting law was passed it without any opposition, despite a letter-writing campaign from some churches and concerted lobbying from the Australian Christian Lobby.

Several members who voted against the proposal in 2003 stated they were convinced to change their position by the personal stories of same-sex couples with children.

"As far as I know, this is the first time any Australian legislative chamber has endorsed a same-sex parenting law without opposition, and for it to be the Tasmanian Legislative Council is a sure sign of how profoundly Tasmania has changed in recent years", Mr Croome said.

"When historians ask how it was this change occurred they will conclude that the quietest voices spoke the loudest."

The parenting law was overwhelmingly endorsed by the Lower House of State Parliament two months ago and will now return to that House where the amendment will be considered.

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668 or Susan Fahey on 0418 434 226.